Well screen



Nov. 4, 1930. M. F. KETTLER 1,780,882

WELL SCREEN y Filed July 18. 1929 Patented Nov 4, 1930 uNmazn STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN F. KETTLER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS 1 WELL scam Application filed July 18, 1929. Serial in. 379,217.

The.present .inventionrelates to oil or water well equipment and in particular to a screen pipe or casing, sometimes called a strainer.

5 An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which.

will have a large screening or straining surface with a strong construction capable of effectively resisting the hard usages and Wear and tear to which apparatus of this character is ordinarily subjected.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described in which the parts are held together as a unit by shrinking them together, whereby play between the parts is eliminated and bracing of the parts secured.

Further objects and advantages will appear evident or be pointed out in the following part of the specification and in. the accompanying drawing in which from which rings utilizedin the screen may be formed.

Referring specifically to the drawin s, in -which* similar reference characters re er to similar parts in each of the views, the numeral 10 indicates a tubular supportmg mem her or body provided with a plurality of spaced openings or perforations 11, shown in the drawings as circular open1ngs. These openings may be of any-suitable size and shape, for example of the order of one-half inch to five-eighths inch in diameter when they are circular. The openings 11'are preferably arranged in circles about the body 10 and the openings in one circle sta gered with relation to the openings of an a jacent circle of openings. Fig. 1 shows the staggered relation of the openings 11. In the structure shown in the drawings, eight openings are provided in each circular row of openings, but I do not limit myself to this number, as the number of the openings 11 may be varied as will be understood by the person skilled in the art, depending upon the dlam'eter of'the body 10. and the use for which the strainer is intended.

A plurality of adjacent or superimposed slotted and channelled narrow rings 12 are shrunk about the perforated body 10 and cover the perforations or openings 11 in the body 10. Each ring-12 is provided internally with a channel or groove 14, and the width or height of each ring member 12and its channel Mare preferably so proportioned that when the ring members 12 are assembled and shrunk upon the body portion 10 each circular row of openings 11 willbe disposed opposite a channel 14, and substantially equidistant from the walls or shoulders 18 and 19 thereof, as shown in Fig. 1." The end walls 18 and 19 pass completely around each end of'the rings and when shrunk into pos tion make fluid tight connectionswith the body 10. The rings are narrow in width, for' example 1 to-2 inches, therefore requiring 6 to 12 to make one linear foot of strainer surface. .The depth of the channel 14 may be an eighth of'an inch or thereabouts. The

dimension of other parts will be understood by persons skilled in the art upon considerat1on of the whole disclosure.

Each ring'12 is provided with a series of closely disposed straining slots 17 preferably of keystone or wedge shape to provide reliefv for the entermg face of the slot to minimizethe danger of clogging. The slots 17 are shown out completely across the channels'14, each end of the slots ending substantiall at the inner surface of the side walls or shou ders 18 and '19 of the channels 14, thereby leaving an unslotted portion 20 at each end of the rings. If desired the slots 17 may be shorter. Instead of being disposed vertically, the slots 17 may be inclined, or even arranged horizontally in spaced groups.

The slots may also be arranged vertically or collars 15 and 16 and their adjacent rings.

body 10 and are provided primarily to protect the ends of the two end rings 12 and not especially for securing the rings m position upon the body 10, as the rings 12 being shrunk upon the body 10 hold themselves in position.

The ring members 12 are separately formed and. are preferably prepared from a straight soft steel or iron channel member which has been slotted prior to formation into a ring.

A longitudinal cross section of such a straight channel member is shown in Figure'3.- In

' forming the ring member 12, the straight slotted channel member bent into the form of a circle with the channel portion 14 within the interior and the ends butt-welded or connected in any suitable manner to form the rings shown in the drawings and described herein. By butt-welding the rings, the channel 14 remains unrestricted throughout its circumference as shown in Fig. 2. The slots 17 may be milled, stamped or'pressed into the 'straig t channel member in any suitable manner beforeforming the ring therefrom. After the rings have been formed, they are preferably case hardened to present a better wearing exterior surface.

The body portion 10 of the strainer upon which the rings 12 are assembled may be of the usual steel or metal employed as well casmg. v

The various portions of the screen either before or after assembly, or both, may be protected by a metal more resistant to the corrosive action occurring in wells than iron \or steel. This coating of non-corroding metal may be applied in any well known manner.

In action the fluids in the oil or water well in which the screen or strainer is employed enter the narrow outside portions of the slots 17 first, then they proceed into the wider portions of this slot and then into the channels 14. The fluids then flow in these channels 14 around the perforated body 10 until they meet an opening 11 through-which they pass into the interior of the body portion 10.

- It is to'be understood that the width of the I 7 slots 17 may be proportioned according to the character of the formation or sand in which the screen or strainer is' to be employed, fine" sand requiring as understood a narrower slot cal conditions of operation, could not be made directly in the bodylO, as theywould weaken it to too great an extent.- Although rowsof openings 11 do weaken the body 10, the rings 12 which completely bridge these weakened portions andtightly grip the body 10 on each side of a weakened portion, together with the collars 15 and 16 which go beyond the perforated portion at each end of the strainer,

tion 10 before placing the perforations 11 therein. The walls 18 and 19 definingthe sides of the channels '14 act as braces for the boil; portion 10.

aving described my invention, I claim:

1. A well screen having in combination a perforated tube, a series of individual reenforcing and straining rings each of channel shape in cross section having spaced inwardly directed annular flanges to engage directly on the wall of the-perforated tube, said rings butting one against the other on said tube and bemgshrunk on said perforated tube with their webs in spaced relation to the tube and,covering certain of the periorations therein, said webs having strainin openings therein the perforationsin said tube being arranged to provide a plurality of circumferential perforatedportions and lmperforate circumferential; portions ex-.

series of individual reenforcing and strain- 7 ing rings disposed around a perforated tube having imperforate circumferential portions extending completely around said tube between perforations, each ring of the series acting as an abutment fora succeeding or preceding ring and having a pair of inwardly directed annular flanges defining between them a channel within the ring, the strainin portions of said rings opening into sai channels, said rings and perioratlons in said tube being so disposed in relation to each other that'fluid may pass from the channels .of the rings through perforations in said tube, said annular flanges each gripping said perforated tube on the said cumferential portions.

3. In a well screen, the combination of a perforated tube having its perforations arimperforate cirranged to define a series of perforated portions and imperforate portionsalternating longitudinally of the tube, the said imperforate 0 ions extending completely around said t1ibe,'a series of individual straining rings abutting one against the other disposed around said perforated portions and having channels adapted to conduct fluid to said perforations from the straining portions of said rings, the said rings being separated from each other by annular walls engaging said imperforate portions of said tube in fluid tight relatlonship.

1,7ao,sss

4. In 21- Well screen, the combination of a perforated tube having its perforations arranged to define a series of perforated portions and imperforate portions alternating longitudinally of the tube, the said imperforate portions extending completely around said tube, a series of individual straining rings abutting one against the other disposed around said perforated portions and having channels adapted toconduct fluid to said perforations from the straining portions of said rings, the said rings being shrunk on said tube and being separated from each other by an annular wall engaging said imperforate portions in fluid tight relationship.

In testirnony whereof I affix my signature.

MARTIN F. KETTLER. 

